New Zealand breakthrough with Tendulkar wicket

New Zealand broke through with the vital wicket of Sachin Tendulkar early on the third day as India negotiated their way to lunch at 189-4 in the second Test here Saturday.

Rahul Dravid was on 57 with VVS Laxman on 21, as India trailed New Zealand's 619-9 declared by 430 runs with six wickets remaining.

Although it was overcast for the first time in the Test, there was nothing in the air to offer the bowlers additional assistance and Tendulkar's dismissal for 49 was against the flow of play.

Apart from occasional hints of fallibility to rising deliveries Tendulkar and Dravid had moved steadily through the morning accumulating runs off spinners Daniel Vettori and Jeetan Patel.

Tendulkar, who came in just before stumps on the second day, opened his account driving Vettori through extra-cover for four and effortlessly continued from there.

He was particularly harsh on one Patel over, belting two boundaries and a six, but it was the off-spinner who made the breakthrough with the first delivery of his next over.

Patel floated the ball up on a good length and Tendulkar attempting to push it towards cover for his 50 succeeded only in getting an edge to Ross Taylor at slip.

Tendulkar had pounded seven boundaries and a six in his 65-ball stand, and his wicket gave New Zealand new hope that they could still manage a result in a Test which had previously looked to be heading towards a draw.

However, the scoring momentum did not change when Laxman came to the wicket with his 21 including four boundaries while Dravid has eight in his 57.

Dravid offered a faint chance early in the day when Chris Martin found an edge but the ball dropped short of the slip cordon.

In a departure from the accepted cricket protocol of neutral umpires, New Zealander Evan Watkin has been drafted in to stand on the third day.

He is officiating with England's Ian Gould after West Indian umpire Billy Doctrove was laid low with a chest infection.